Quantitative motivational differences between volunteers and nonvolunteers for a psychological experiment

Abstract

How do volunteers compare with paid Ss in research? What part does anxiety play in volunteering? "Two classes each of 89 students were given the short form of the Taylor MAS (the SMAS), the Christie and Budnitzky Short Forced-Choice Anxiety Scale (the SFCAS), and a 20-item scale purporting to assess Murray's n Harmavoidance." 2 weeks later the Ss were invited to participate as paid Ss in an "experiment." Need for cash and fear of the electric shock were assessed. Volunteers needed cash more, feared the shock and harm less. "As in other reported studies of this kind, the SMAS did not at all discriminate volunteer from other Ss; nor in fact did the SFCAS." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)